THREE youths were arrested after a silver coloured Ford Focus was stolen during a burglary in the Lydney area last week.

Police recovered an air rifle after detaining the trio in a chase on foot nearly 30 miles away in Tewkesbury.

Officers were alerted when a member of the public called to say he had seen three youths abandoning the car, which had been stolen from outside a house on Highfield Road, Lydney, around 4.30pm on Monday, April 2. The caller said one of them had a firearm.

Police rushed to Curlew Close in Bish­op’s Cleeve and one boy was arrested after a chase. Two other boys were located minutes later with an air rifle.

A 16-year-old from Cheltenham was arrested on suspicion of burglary and firearms offences, and a 17-year-old, also from Chel-

tenham, was arrested on suspicion of burglary, firearms offences and possession of class B drugs.

Another teenager, a 17-year-old from Gloucester, was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

All three have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Police are appealing for anyone who has not yet spoken to police and witnessed these incidents to call 101 quoting incident 345 of April 2.